Tamron SP AF 70-300mm F/4-5.6 Di VC USD Lens - Nikon Mount

This full-size premium Tamron SP AF 70-300mm F/4-5.6 Di VC USD Telephoto Zoom Lens with Extra Low Dispersion (XLD) element delivers best-in-class resolution, while Tamron’s own Ultrasonic Silent Drive (USD) and Vibration Compensation (VC) make the lens fast, quiet and easy to use. Designed for digital SLR cameras, it can be used with both full-frame sensor and AF 35mm cameras for a zoom range of 70-300mm. With APS-C sensor cameras the angle of view will change the zoom range to an equivalent of 109-465mm. Aspiring to the most outstanding image resolution in the 70-300mm class, this lens utilises an advanced optical design featuring an LD (Low Dispersion) and an XLD (Extra Low Dispersion)lens element made from specialised materials that prevent chromatic aberration. As a result, it boasts sharper contrast and greater descriptive performance than all others in its class. The Tamron SP AF 70-300mm F/4-5.6 Di VC USD Telephoto Zoom Lens is also the first Tamron lens sporting a USD (Ultrasonic Silent Drive), Tamron’s very own ultrasonic autofocus drive mechanism. This USD mechanism delivers fast focusing, making it a perfect telephoto zoom choice for photographing sports, racing and other fast-moving subjects. The lens also boasts Tamron’s proprietary VC (Vibration Compensation) image stabilisation to assist in handheld photography, not only at long focal length ranges where blurring is more common, but also under low-lit conditions, dramatically enhancing photographic freedom. This combination of best-in-class image resolution, Ultrasonic Silent Drive and Vibration Compensation takes Tamron technology to a new level.

Features

A new optical system optimised for digital SLRs achieves top resolution in the 70-300mm class with specialised glass elements The advanced optical design employs a sophisticated XLD (Extra Low Dispersion) lens element made from a special high-grade glass that has dispersive properties (i.e. where refraction causes the dispersion of white light into spectral hues) even lower than standard LD lenses. The dispersive properties of the XLD lens are similar to those of fluorite; in combination with the LD elements, these make for an optimal optical design that delivers best-in-class resolution with advanced axial chromatic and magnification aberration correction – major inhibitors of image quality enhancement. The result is a lens that delivers sharp contrast and better descriptive performance throughout the entire zoom range.

Equipped with Tamron’s VC (Vibration Compensation) image stabilisation The SP AF 70-300mm F/4-5.6 Di VC USD employs Tamron’s renowned image stabilisation mechanism – the VC (Vibration Compensation) seen in both the AF 18-270mm Di II VC (Model B003) and SP AF 17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di II VC (Model B005). With VC, the photographer has the freedom to shoot at a shutter speed that is an extra four stops slower without having to worry about image blurring. This makes handheld capture of evening, night and interior shots much more spontaneous, as a sharp image can be obtained more easily without having to mount the camera on a tripod.

Full-time manual focus at your fingertips Autofocus has many benefits but sometimes the photographer needs the control of manual focus. Full-time manual offers just that: the crossover from autofocus to manual focus by simply adjusting the focus ring, allowing the photographer to make adjustments on the fly. This feature helps the lens produce impressive results even in telephoto situations where the depth of field is shallow.

Internal focusing system for enhanced ease of use The lens employs an internal focusing (IF) system which preserves the overall length of the lens due while focusing. As the front group of the lens does not extend, the lens is particularly easy to use in close focusing ranges.

Enjoyable photography for a wide range of enthusiasts using all types of SLRs With a full-frame digital or 35mm SLR, portrait and medium telephoto shots can be achieved on the wider 70mm end of the range and spectacular telephoto shots at the longer 300mm. When using an APS-C sensor camera the angle of view narrows, giving it the equivalent range of 109-465mm* for bold ultra-telephoto shots. And with its maximum magnification ratio 1:4, the lens can be used to explore the realm of semi-macro photography. Focal length range for digital SLR cameras with full-size sensors, 35mm film format SLR cameras Focal length range with converted angle of view for digital SLR cameras with APS-C size sensors 70mm 109mm 200mm 310mm 300mm 465mm

Uncompromising countermeasures reduce ghosting and flare Digital photography requires extreme precision, which is why Tamron incorporates new BBAR (Broad-Band Anti Reflection) multilayer coatings that reduce reflection into the lens elements. This ensures excellent performance in all photographic conditions and enhances light transmission on both long and short wavelengths. Also, Tamron applies internal surface coatings on cemented surfaces of lens elements to make images sharper with better colour balance and reproduction.

Simple yet attractive exterior design For this lens Tamron has adopted a streamlined silhouette to ensure that this lens looks good with a variety of SLR cameras. The subtle texture of the paint gives a well-crafted finish to the exterior.

Flower-shaped hood is supplied with the lens to shield stray light Included as a standard accessory, the flower-shaped hood matches the rectangular shape of the image sensor to most effectively block the interference of superfluous light rays entering from outside the borders of the image area, helping to ensure sharp, clear, flare-free images with crisp detail in the shadow areas.

Super Performance series This line of ultra-high-performance lenses is designed and manufactured to the exacting specifications demanded by professionals and others who require the highest possible image quality. The foremost priority is achieving superior performance parameters - high design standards take priority over cost constraints. As a result, Tamron SP lenses feature innovative designs that have established an enviable reputation for excellence amongst demanding photographers.

Ultrasonic Silent Drive Tamron’s USD works with the high-frequency ultrasonic vibrations that are produced by a ring called a ‘stator’. Energy from the vibrations is used to rotate an attached metallic ring known as the ‘rotor’. Piezoelectric ceramic is a material that produces ultrasonic vibrations when voltage of a specific frequency is applied is arranged in a ring formation on the stator. This electrode configuration of piezoelectric ceramic causes two ultrasonic vibrations to occur in the stator. By effectively combining these two ultrasonic vibrations, it is possible to convert the energy from the vibrations that produce simple motion into energy known as ‘deflective travelling waves’, which move around the circumference of the ring. The friction between these deflective travelling waves created on the metallic surface of the stator and the surface of the rotor produces force, causing the rotor to rotate. Attached to the rotor is the focusing lens, which is given a fast, smooth autofocus movement.

Autofocus/Manual focus switch The ability to switch quickly between autofocus (AF) and manual focus (MF) is a great asset in many types of shooting, especially sports and nature photography. This is easily accomplished with Tamron's ingenious AF/MF system. By simply sliding the focus ring back and forth between the two positions you can select either the AF or the MF focusing position. In manual focus mode Tamron lenses provide smooth, precise manual focusing by turning their wide, well-textured focusing rings.

Extra Low Dispersion Extra Low Dispersion lens elements are made from a special high-grade glass that has dispersive properties (i.e. where refraction causes the dispersion of white light into spectral hues) even lower than standard LD lenses, in fact being similar to those of fluorite. In combination with LD elements, these make for an optimal optical design that delivers superb resolution with advanced correction of axial chromatic and magnification aberrations - major inhibitors of image quality. The result is a lens that delivers sharp contrast and better descriptive performance throughout the entire zoom range.

Vibration Compensation Tamron's unique VC mechanism uses a proprietary actuator and algorithms to deliver an extremely stable viewfinder image with excellent tracking. The mechanism employs a tri-axial system in which three driving coils move internal optical components within the VC lens electromagnetically. The VC lens elements are held in place only by contact with three ball bearings - which in the latest Tamron VC lenses are ceramic - achieving smooth movement with minimal friction. The simplicity of this mechanical structure is also one of the secrets of Tamron's compact lens sizes.

Internal Focusing In many lenses, the front elements move back and forth to alter the focus distance. With an internal focusing (IF) mechanism, the focusing elements are inside the optical design. Because the front lens elements remain static, the lens’ actual length does not change. This provides several benefits both to the image and during photography:

The barrel is not subject to stray light entering from external helicoids that can adversely affect image quality

A non-rotating front filter thread makes it easier to use filters such as graduated filters and polarisers

A flower-shaped lens hood will remain in the correct position to most effectively shield the lens from stray light

Better balance and more predictable handling because the lens length does not change during focusing

Generally, a much closer minimum focusing distance throughout the zoom range

Improved optical performance by minimising loss of illumination at the corners of the image field (vignetting)

Suppression of other aberrations that become more troublesome at different focusing positions.

Integrated focus cam optimises internal focusing Tamron's Integrated Focus Cam is a precision mechanical component that optimises the co-ordinated movement of the Internal Focusing (IF) system with the Multiple Cam Zoom Mechanism. This ingenious mechanism ensures accurate and seamless positioning of all the internal elements within the lens and coordinates them with the external zoom and focus controls.